Crease pump and the like



Nov. 1, 1932. H. J. ANDERSON 3 3 GREASE PUMP AND THE LIKE v Filed June 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L W W (W x mum mnumnu Nov. 1, 1932. H. .1. ANDERSON 1,385,314

GREASE PUMP AND THE LUKE Filed June 6, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Nov. 1, 1932;. H. J ANDERSON GREASE PUMP AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jun 6, 1930 Nov. 1, 1932. H. J. ANDERSON I GREASE PUMP AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 6'. 1950 Nov. 1, 1932- H. J. ANDERSON 1,385,314

GREASE PUMP AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1930 Patented Nov. 1, 1932 ATENT om nanny J. Arman-sorter cnIoAGo, rnLINoIs, nssicnon 'ro nuns-Marianna company,

or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, a conronarion or ILLINOIS v GREASE PUMP AND THE LIKE 7 Application, filed June 6,1930. Serial No. 459,499.

This invention has to do with improvements in grease pumps and the like. That is, the invention relates to improvements in machines for pumping grease and other relatively stiii or viscous materials. 'lhe machine disclosed herein is especially intended for pumping such materials and delivering them to hearings of machines in industrial plants, but it will presently appear that the n device herein disclosedmay also be advantageously used in many other locations and for other purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pump which is so constituted that it is well adapted'for delivering the grease under relatively high pressure. Another feature of the intention relates to theprovision of a distributing valve or distributor in conjunction with such pump, said distributor so being so arranged that it willperiodically and in sequence deliver the greaseto a number of different bearings which are to be regularly lubricated. y

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of a unitary or self-contained outfit including the pump and the distributing valve, all of the said parts being mounted upon a common base and driven by a common source of power in proper ,timingwith no respect to each other. In this way the machine can be built and delivered as a unitary structure and it can he installed and placed in service with a relatively small number of connections and adjustments.

Another -iicature. of the invention relates to the provision of a pumping device embodying the above features, which pumping device is provided with a variable stroke adjustment so that the amount of pumping action can be 0 readily adjusted from time to time to meet various requirements. In the case of a pump delivering such materials as grease, and especially in those cases where the material is delivered under a -fairly high pressure, it

5 is desirable to bring the plunger as close as possible to the upper or valve end of the cylinder at the end of the working stroke so as to reduce the clearance asmuch aspossible.

It is therefore a further objectof the inven- "0 tion to provide a pump structure having a variable stroke arrangement and also The construction pl machine herein dis closed is in certain respects of the same general type as that disclosed in copending application for Letters Patent of the United States on improvements in grease pumps and the like, Serial .No. 348,046 which .was filed March 18, 1929. The present application, however, discloses constructions differing from the disclosures of said earlier applicarespects besides which the construction herein disclosed also incorporates various addir tional features not shown or disclosed in the aforesaid'earlie'r application.

One of the features to which the present case is especially directed relates to the pump construction in which the variation of stroke may be accomplished'by a lost motion connection between the crank pin and the con.- necting rod, the connecting rod itself being of fixed or definite length. The crank pin always works against the upper'or inner end of the lost- .motion connection so that on the compression or working stroke the plunger is always forced into the same terminal 'posit on at the upper or delivery endof the eyl inder. As a consequence, the delivery of the grease from the cylinder always takes place up to a final and definite and ,unchang ing terminal movement position of the plunger so that .the delivery of the grease under pressure is' very accurately performed and exactly the proper amount of material is delivered from the pump and distributing valve to the bearing being lubricated. The variation in displacement or stroke is ac.- complished by the lost motion CQnneetion aforesaid, the same being so arranged tha the return or suction movement" of the l 70 tion in a number of important and material plunger does not commence until after a certain amount of lost motion has been taken up by backward movement of the crank pin. The amount of this lost motion is adjustable so that the desired function of adjustment is available.

Another feature in connection with the pump construction relates to the provision of a positively operated valve through which the grease is delivered from the pump cylinder to the distributing valve, said positively operated pump cylinder valve being so constructed and operated that any backward movement of grease from the pump cylinder to the hopper is prevented, and also so that after grease has been delivered into the conduit leading to the distributing valve, the pump valve changes position in order to positively prevent any backward movement of such delivered grease to the pump. This pump valve therefore serves to insure a more accurate metering and delivery of the desired amount of grease from the pump to the distributing valve.

Still another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a construction in which the principal moving parts of the pump and related mechanisms including the various drive shafts and gears, are located and operate within an oil bath so that they are substantially submerged in oil at all times. By this means the device is caused to operate more smoothly and the wear and tear ar considerably reduced and the accuracy of the operation is maintained over a long interval of time.

It is a further object in connection with the foregoing to provide an auxiliary lubricator in the form of an oil pump operating in harmony with the movements of the principal parts of the machine, and serving to deliver a stream of oil to certain ofthe bearings which can not be conveniently submerged in the oil bath'aforesaid. By this means, these additional bearings are also lubricated'at all times and thereby protected.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a housing for the upper portion of the structure so as to guard against ingress of dust, dirt, and other gritty and objectionable foreign matter. In this connection, however, the machine is so constitute'd that the grease hopper in which the grease is retained and from which it is drawn by the pump, projects above said housing so that it is accessible for inspection or replenishment without having to open the principal housing itself. The advantage of this arrangement will be readily apparent since thereby the necessity of repeated openings of the principal housing is eliminated and the possibility of foreign matter gaining access to the interior thereof is reduced.

Another feature in connection with the grease hopper is the provision of means for warming or heating the same if desired especially in its lower portion and adjacent to the conduit through which the grease passes to the pump. This will improve and facilitate the movement of grease to the pump especially in cold weather and when pumping stiii' grease. This feature will also thereby materially improve the accuracy of the metering and pumping operations, since the tendency for the formation of voids or air pockets in the grease drawn to the pump will be reduced.

ther objects and uses of the invention will appear from adetailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an end elevation of a machine embodying the features of the present invention, the housing being cut away so as to show the interior construction and especially the principal working parts. Figure 1 may also be considered as a section on the lines 11 of Figures 2, 3, and 4, looking in the directions of the arrows;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the machine with the cover broken away to show the interior construction; and Figure 2 may be considered as a section taken on the lines 22 of Figures 1 and l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 shows a side elevation looking in the opposite direction as compared to Figure 2, the housing being'broken away so as to show the interior construction; and Figure 3 may be considered as a section on the lines 33 of Figures 1 and 4:, looking in the directions of the arrows;

Figure l shows a plan View of the machinewith the hopper and heating clement broken away in order to show the interior construc-- tion; and Figure 4 may be considered as a sec tion on the lines 4*4: of Figures 1, 2, and 3, looking in the directions of the arrows;

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary detailed face view of the lower end of the connecting rod and adjustment block on enlarged scale as compared to the other figure-s;

Figure 6 shows a face view looking at the back face of the pump valve operating cam and gear;

Figure 7 shows a side elevation of the pump valve; and

Figure 8 shows an end view corresponding to Figure 7.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the principal operative parts of the machine are mounted on a base plate or block 10. The same preferably includes corner pedestals or feet 11. The principal operative parts of the machine are located in an oil-tight casing or housing including a bottom section or pan 12, the side walls of which extend approximately one-half way up the height of the ma "chineand are provided with an upwardly extending lip or flange 13 which reaches entirely around the machine. There is also provided a removable cover of inverted pan shape, the

same being designated by the numeral 14. This cover sets down flush with the walls of the lower section, and the cover 14 when set in place is amply supported and kept inalignment with the lowersectien by means of the flange 13. v I

At one side of the machine there a wall section 15 which reaches up from the lower pan section part way in order to accommodate the grease delivery pipes presently to be explained.

A-horizontal main drive shaft 16 is journaled in bearings 17 and 18 which extend up from the base plate 10. This shaft 16 pro-- j ects through one of the end walls of the housing as shown'in Figures 2, 3, and 4, and this proj ecting end can be driven in any convenient manner as by means of a pulley or otherwise (not indicated).

There is a jack shaft 19 journaled parallel to the shaft 16 and carried by bearings 20 and 21 which reach upwardly from the base plate 10. A ratchet wheel 22 is mounted on this jack shaft 19 adjacent to a pinion 23 on said shaft, the arrangement being one whereby the rotation of the ratchet Wheel serves to drive the pinion. Sometimes the ratchet wheel and pinionv are directly connected together in which case they may both float on the jack shaft; whereas, in other cases they are both connected to the jack shaft which thereupon becomes a power transmitting medium;

Journaled upon the shaft 19 adjacent to the ratchet wheel is a ratchet arm'24, the upper end of which carries an enlarged blockor housing 25 which, asshown in Figure 4 particularly, reaches over far enough to overlie the ratchetwheel 21. A dog is mounted in the housing 25 and works against the teeth of the ratchet wheel to drive the same in the counter-clockwise direction when viewed as in Figure 1. The teeth of the ratchet wheel and the dog are properly cut or formed for this purpose. The upper end of the dog or presser pin is shown at 26 in Figures 2 and 4. There is another arm 27 which reaches downwardly from the arm 24 so" that by swinging the arm 27 back and forth the arm 24 is also swung in order to feed the ratchet wheel. A link 28 has one end pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm 27 The .inner end of the. drive shaft 16 carries a crankblock 29. The same has a radially extending undercut groove 30 which receives the inner end of a crank pin 31, said inner end being suitably enlarged so that it will be held in position beneath the undercut groove 30. Thecrank pin 31 may thus be set into different radial positions with respect to the drive shaft 16 so that the throw is adjustable. A suitable nut or similar construction for securing the crank pin" in such'position not illustrated) may beused.

The inner end of the link 28 is connected to the crank pin- 31 so that the rotations of the shaft 16 are communicated to the'arm Why a swinging movement; and due to the adjustability already explained, the amount by which the ratchet wheel 21 and "pinion 23 will be advanced for each revolution of the stand 34 which constitutes the base portion of the pumping unit.

The shaft 32 carries a gear which meshes with the pinion 23 so that the shaft 32 is driven therefrom.

The base block 34 of the pumping unit is provided with a central vertical opening-35 (see Figure 2 in particular) and the inner end of the pump shaft 32 extends thereinto. Said inner end of said pump shaft carries a crank disk 36, and a "crank pin 37 projects therefrom and works in the space 35 already referred to. 1

A pump cylinder 38 is mounted upon the upper end of the block 34 to which it is amply secured as by means of tap screws 39. This pump cylinder has a vertical cylinder bore 40 within which works a pump plunger of the skirt type, the upper end of which is shown at 41 in the position of Figure 2.

A single valve port 42extends upwardly from the upper end of the pump cylinder and is primarily controlled'by means of a rocking plug valve 43, the construction of which is shown in detail in Figure 7. This 1 plug valve has a cross port 44 with which there communicates a transverse port 45 at rlght angles thereto. The cylinder head has a port 46 which reaches upwardly to the lower portion 47 of a grease hopper 48, and the cylinder head also has another port 49 which reaches sidewise. Upon turning the valve plug 43 into one position (that sho-wnin Figure 2), the communication is established from the hopper to the pump cylinder so as to permit the cylinder to draw in a fresh charge of grease-gwhereas, by turning the valve plug throughQO in a clockwise direction, the communication is established from.

the pump cylinder at right angles to the (le livery port 49. The operating means for the plug valve will be explained presently.

There is a connecting rod 50 whose upper end is connected to the pump plunger. The

lower end of said connecting rod is forked as shown at 51 in-Figure 5. The. crank pin 37 already referred to extends into this forked portion.

An adjustment screw 52 is threaded upwards through a cross block 53 which reaches '3' across the lower end of the forked portion. Said adjustment screw is provided with a milled head 5% by means. of which it can, be conveniently manipulated. A spring 55 lo. cated between the milled head 54 and the cross block 53 keeps the parts under tension so as to resist improper turning.

A bearing block 56 is slidably mounted in the forked portion of the connecting rod and said bearing block is rotatably connected to the upper end of the pin 52. Consequently, by turning said pin the position of the hearing block can be adjusted and thus its clearance from the upper end of the slotted portion of the connecting rod can be adjusted.

It will be evident tl-at due to this construction, the crank pin always serves on its upstroke to positively force the pump plun er upwards to the same definite limit of travel which is adjacent to the upper end of the cylinder bore. This will serve to insure a complete delivery of grease from the cylinder up to the same limit of plunger movement at all times.

On the other hand, the downward movoment of the crank pin will not become effective to pull down on the connecting rod until the crank pin comes against the block 56, it being necessary to take up the lost motion dictated by the position of said block. result is that the amount of grease which will be drawn into the pump cylinder on the intake stroke is variable and adjustable according to the adjustment of the block 56.

I will now explain the mechanism. whereby the plug valve 43 is operated. This mechanism includes an arm 57, one end of which is pivotally connected to the block 34: 2* shown at 58 in Figure 1. The plug valve 43 has a gear or pinion 59 formed on its projecting end (see Figures 2 and 4). An arm 60 is pivoted to the cylinder 193d block at the point 61, and one end of the arm 60 is provided with a segmental gear 62 which meshes with the gear or pi ion 59 as best evident from Figure 2. upper and lower ends pivotally connected to the arms 60 and 57 respectively; and sufficient freedom of movement is allowed. in these pivotal connections to compensate for angularity in the positions of the parts. If desired, universal joint connections may be established at the ends of the links 63.

The back side of the gear 35 is provided with a cam slot or groove 64, the form of which is clearly shown in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 6; and the arm 57 is provided with a pin 65 working in the cam. slot 64;, a roller being preferably provided on the pin 65 to reduce the friction of movement.

The cam slot 64 is provided with two circular dwells of different radii which are connected together by approaching and receding cam portions. The result is that as the gear 35 rotates with corresponding plunger A link 63 has its movements, the valve 43 is also rocked back and forth. Thus,'in the position illustrated in the drawings, the gear 35 rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed as in Figure 1. At the instant illustrated in Figure 1,.the plunger is at the top of its movement and is ready to start down, the delivery of grease on the previous upstroke having been completed. Clockwise rotation of the gear 35 and cam slot 64: when viewed as in Figure 1 has resulted in lowering the arm 57 substantially to the position shown inFigure 2, so that the pump port L2 connects directly with the hopper port 46 and the downward movement of the plunger will draw in a fresh charge of grease. When the gear 35 and cam slot 64 have completed substantially a onehalf revolution in the clockwise direction, the crank pin 3'? will be ready to start up for the delivery or workingstroke. At this instant the cam slot will cause thearm 57 to swing upwards with consequent reversal of position of the valve 43 which will then be'ready to deliver the grease out throughthe port 49.

There is a distributing valve housing 66 lying parallel to the snafts already referred to. This housing 66 is carried by stands 67 and 68 which roach upwardly from the base plate 10. A. series of delivery pipes 69, 70, 71. .72., 73. 741-, T5, and 76 reach horizontally sidewise from the housing 66 and out through t side wall 15 as best shown in Figure 1. ese pipes deliver the groaseto the different bearings which are to he lubricated.

A selector valve plug 77 (see Figure 4) is rotatably mounted within the housing 66. [it one end said selector valve plug ias a shaft extension 78 which reaches out through the end of the housing 66 as shown in the different figures. The selector valve plug 77 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 79. The bore is blind at the end where the extension 78 is located, but the bore 79 is open at the other end which. is adjacent to a cover plate 80 on the housing. A pipe 81 leads from the pump delivery port 4-.9 through the cover plate 30 so that the grease isdelivcred into the selector valve 77. I Said selector valve has a series of radially extending passages s ch as 32 in Figure 4, the said passages .ocated in alignment with the different dehve y pipes, but said passagesare located at dlnrent angular positions so that they come into registry with the dill rent delivery pipes in succession as the selector valve plug rotated.

There is a ratchet wheel 83 secured to the projecting end of the valve pin or shaft 78. .h.is ratchet 83 has a number of teeth corresponding to the number of successive positi ens which the selector valve plug is intended to occupy during each rotation.

A swinging arm 84- has its upper end journaled on the extending valve plug shaft 78. This arm carries a box 85 which is proed toengage the notches of the ratchet wheel for selective advancement of the same as the lowing manner; l A disk 87 is secured arm 84 is rocked back and forth. Such back and forth rocking is accomplished in the folto theend of the ack shaft 32'andcarries a crank pin 88. link 89 has its ends pivotally connected to the crank pin 88 and to the lowerend of the arm 84. Consequently, each time the pump shaft 32 completes one revolution, the selector valve is advanced one position so as to be ready to deliver the next charge of grease to the next delivery pipe.

Preferably there are provided a dog 90 engaging the ratchet 22 to prevent backward movement thereof, and a dog 91 engaging the ratchet wheel 83 Figure l. g

It will be understood that the positions of the parts are properly timed sothat the advancement ofthe selector valve to a new position takes place during the suction stroke of the pump plunger so that it is ready to deliver the grease under pressure to the proper pipe on the next working stroke.

It will be noted that many of the parts and bearings including gears, links, etc., are located at such a low level that by filling the lower portion of'the'housing 12 with oil, these parts will run in an oil bath so that they will be flushed and lubricated at all times. It is, however, noted that the ratchet 83 and immediately related parts for the se lector valve are too high up to receive the benefit of this lubrication, and this is also true ofcertain other parts includingthe pinion 59 and immediately related parts 'by means of which the valve 43 is operated. I have therefore provided alubricator for these bearings. block 92 (see Figure 2 in particular) extending up from the base plate 10. A small plunger 93 works up and down in a cylinder bore in the block 92, said plunger serving to deliver oil out through a tube 94. This oil is drawn from the bath which surrounds the block 92.

The tube 94 extends up and over the pin ion 59 and segmental gear 62 (see Figures 1 and 2 in particular), and then the tube 94 extends over and lengthwise above the selector valve housing 66 to a point above the ratchet 83 and immediately adjacent parts. The tube 94 is provided with perforations above the pinion 59 and segmental rack 62 so that some of the oil pumped through the tube drips down on to thoseparts, and

the remainder of the oil is delivered on to the ratchet 83, etc.

' The pump plunger 93 is operated by means of an extension 95 reaching out from the end .of the arm 57. Adjusting screws 96 and 97 tendedacross the lower 48 as best shown in'Figures 1 and 2. This elementincludes inner and outer concentric to prevent backward 7 movement thereof. These are best shown in Said lubricator includes a the upper and lower limits ofistroke'there of can be readily adjusted. I I If desired, a heating tube 98 may be exportion of the hopper tubes, the end of the outer tube being closed as shown at 99 in Figure 1. Steam or the like may be introduced through a connection 100 into the inner tube, the same flowing lengthwise and the two tubes to a discharge connection 101.

Any condensation will be delivered. out

through the discharge connection.

In some cases it may be desired to turn the jack shaft 19 by hand in order to bringthe machine to agiven point or toadvance the lubrication operations for some special cond'ition. For this purpose, the end of the jack shaft 19 may be provided with a clutch block 102which can be engaged by a similar clutch block on a crank shaft 103'. This through the wall ofv crank shaft extends out the housing and may receive a crank 104 by which it may be'turned. If desired, a stuif-' ing box 105 may be provided at the point of exit through the wall of the housing.

In some cases, it may be desirable to make provision against the creation of an excessive grease pressure which might result in damaging the p'arts. Such excessive pressure might be created for example in case one of the discharge pipes should become clogged or sealed. For this purpose I have shown a passage 106 (see Figure '2) which reaches fromthe pump discharge passage 42 to a point of communicationwith the interior'of the hopper 48." A spring pressed'ball valve 107 islplaced in said'passage adjacent to the end thereof which extends into the hopper; and a'screw 108 (see Figure 4) maybe tightened up in order to increase the tension of the spring 109, by means of which'the-ball of this, valve is retained on'itsseat. the tension of this spring is suflicientto prevent any leakageof the grease back into the hopper,but an excessive grease pressure will be relieved. p J

'While I have herein shown anddescribed only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

- 1. In a machine of the class described, the

means for always moving said plunger to the same upperlimit of movement on the work Normally then entering the outer tube at the closed end '99 and returning between ing stroke, the stroke of the plunger on the suction or intake stroke being variable, inlet and delivery connections into the upper portion of the cylinder, a rocker valve for con.- trolling said connections to control inlet and delivery of the material into and from the pump cylinder, means for positively rocking said valve harmoniously with the plunger movements for the inlet and delivery functions, an emergency grease delivery connection from the upper portion of the cylinder, and a spring pressed emergency valve normally spring seated and resisting delivery of pumped material through said emergency connection up to an adjusted upper limit of pressure substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of adjustable means for pumping grease or other relatively stiff material with a variable displacement and with a high degree of accuracy in the metering thereof, said means including a variable stroke vertical cylinder pump having a plunger and means for always moving said plunger to the same upper limit of movement on the working stroke, the stroke of the plunger on the suction or intake stroke being variable, inlet and delivery connections into the upper portion of the cylinder, a rocker valve for controlling said connections to control inlet and delivery of the material into and from the pump cylinder, and means for positively rocking said valve harmoniously with the plunger move ments for the inlet and delivery functions, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertical cylinder variable displacement plunger pump, a horizontally located distributor valve, a horizontal drive shaft, gear and ratchet connections between said drive shaft and the plunger pump and the distributing valve, said drive shaft and connections being located principally below the level of the distributing valve, and means for oiling and lubricating all of said parts in service comprising a pan surrounding and enclosing said parts up to a level below the position of the distributing valve, said pan being for the accommodation of a lubricating bath for said parts with the exception of the distributing valve, whereby said parts operate continuously in an oil bath, a displacement pump submerged within said oil bath, an operative connection from said parts to said displacement pump, effectively to draw oil from the bath and pump the same during the operation of the device, and connections for the delivery of oil so pumped to lubricate the distributing valve, substantially as described.

4:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for pumping and distributing material such as grease or the like including a vertical variable displacement plunger pump, a horizontal distributor valve,

a horizontal drive shaft, connections between said drive shaft and the pump and the dis tributor valve, some of said parts being located at a greater elevation than others, and. means for elfectively lubricating all ofsaid parts in service comprising a pan surround ing and enclosing all of said parts up to a given level, and adapted to contain lubricat-= ing oil for the lubrication of all of said parts up to said level, a positive displacement pump located in said pan and drawing lubricating oil therefrom and delivering. the same, means for driving said pump by the use of some of said connections for delivering oil from said pump to the parts of greater elevation aforesaid, whereby certain parts are lubricated by operation withinan oil bath and other parts are lubricated by the use of said pump, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertical cylinder, a plunger working therein, a horizontal pump shaft for said plunger, a crank pin connected to said shaft, operative connections between said crank pin and said plunger,'a drive shaft, gear and pinion connections between the drive shaft and the pump shaft and including a relatively large gear on the pump shaft, there being inlet and delivery connections for the pump cylinder, a rocker valve for controlling said connections, and means for rocking said valve harmoniously with the pump plunger movements, said means including a rock arm having one end pivotally connected to a stationary part, a cam slot in the face of the pump shaft gear, a pin on the rock arm working in said cam slot, and operative connections from the free end of the rock arm to the valve, substantially as described.

HARRY J. ANDERSON. 

